By Chigbogu Emeka Kingsley
This research work is centered on demographic differentials on drug obtaining behavior of people living with HIV in Enugu state .The treatment and care of people living with HIV has become paramount because of the alarming rate of HIV infection .in order to effectively manage this pandemic, the need to effectively distribute the anti retroviral drugs to the affected patients becomes very vital and the essence of understanding the drug obtaining behavior of this patients is germane in order not to waste the effort and resources of government in setting up treatment centers The research work is highly descriptive and inferential in nature. This involves the use of tables, frequencies, and simple percentages as the basic statistical technique employed to analyze the raw data which was gotten from the primary sources. The raw data was subsequently subjected to chi-square test as a major tool for hypotheses and analysis. The alternative hypotheses were accepted showing that there are determinants that affect where PLHIV go to obtain their drugs. Findings reveals that the choice of where they go to obtain their drugs is mainly determined by the fear of stigmatization as they travel miles to treatment centers where they know that people that know them will not see them and recognize that they are PLHIV as 70.21% are not resident in Enugu while 29.79% only resides in Enugu. Furthermore, the roles that support groups play in fostering their common interest and ensuring that their right to dignity of life is maintained were properly x-rayed. It concluded that Fear of stigmatization is at the root of the drug obtaining behavior observed amongst the patients. It recommended that polices of anti stigmatization should be enacted/put in place by the government aimed at ensuring that stigmatization is a thing of the past. Government and non-governmental agencies should provide funding to the support groups to enable them carry out their roles effectively. This is in addition to the provision of more facilities and empowerment of the patients.